Multi-Database Tool and SQL Editor

DatabaseSpy connects to all major databases, easing SQL editing, database structure design, content editing, database schema and content comparison, and database conversion for a fraction of the cost of single-database solutions.

SQL Editor and Query Tool

The versatile DatabaseSpy SQL Editor is divided into a SQL statement window and one or more tabbed or stacked Result windows, with a convenient Execute button in the SQL Editor toolbar to let you immediately execute your SQL statements and view the output.

The SQL statement window applies color coding to each SQL statement with unique identification for SQL statements, parameters, operators, and comments to help you quickly and easily review and analyze an individual SQL query or a complex series of SQL commands.

The DatabaseSpy SQL editor features customizable SQL auto-completion to accelerate SQL query development. Execute queries and see immediate results in one or more windows that may be tabbed or stacked.

Supported Databases:

Firebird 2.5, 3

IBM DB2 for iSeries® v6.1, 7.1

IBM DB2® 8, 9.1, 9.5, 9.7, 10.1, 10.5

Informix® 11.70, 12.10

MariaDB 10, 10.3

Microsoft Access™ 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013

Microsoft® Azure SQL

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017

MySQL® 5, 5.1, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 8

Oracle® 9i, 10g, 11g, 12c

PostgreSQL 8, 9.0.10, 9.1.6, 9.2.1, 9.4, 9.6, 10

Progress OpenEdge 11.6

SQLite 3.x

Sybase® ASE 15, 16

Teradata 16

SQL formatting configurations are provided for each supported database and appropriate formatting is automatically applied when you switch databases.

DatabaseSpy supports asynchronous query execution, allowing multiple SQL queries to be processed in different windows at the same time, either queries to different servers or even multiple queries against the same server.

Support for SQL Templates

DatabaseSpy includes support for SQL queries that contain parameters, also known as SQL Templates. Parameters can make a query much more flexible, for instance allowing users to easily test complex join statements with multiple values.

The DatabaseSpy SQL Editor and result windows at the top left below show a query to report all orders of a specific product by a specific customer.

This query could be much more flexible by replacing the product name ‘sprockets’ and the customer number 525 with parameters, as shown in the second query window above where the parameters :pname and :custnum are substituted for the product and customer.

When the query with parameters is run directly using the Execute button at the top left of the SQL Editor window, DatabaseSpy 2018 opens a dialog allowing the user to enter values for execution, and the result shown at the lower right is generated.

SQL Templates for DatabaseSpy can be saved in a special projects folder and executed dynamically. Often a user needs to create queries that generate test results to explore unfamiliar data. After a test query is executed, the user can select values from the result table and supply them as parameters to a SQL template stored in the project templates folder.

A new SQL Editor window opens with an automatically-generated query based on the template with selected values assigned to the parameters, the generated query is executed, and the result table is shown.

Graphical Database Design

The DatabaseSpy graphical Design Editor lets you view and edit the structures of all your databases through one graphical user interface. You can examine tables and relationships in an existing database, edit tables to better suit your needs, or even can add entire tables and specify all their column attributes and relationships to other tables from scratch.

The DatabaseSpy database design tool graphical view lets you concentrate on the underlying structure of your data and any required modifications rather than the SQL commands required to implement them. As you work, the DatabaseSpy graphical database designer automatically constructs the SQL statements you will need, but you choose when to execute the database structure change script once all your edits are complete.

The graphical image of each table includes compartments you can expand to view in greater detail or collapse so you can concentrate on table relationships, which are clearly indicated with connecting lines.

Generate Complete DDL Scripts for Database Schemas

DatabaseSpy includes a new command to create complete DDL scripts for a database schema. When a database administrator needs to recreate a complete database structure, scripts are required not just to create tables, but also all views, constraints, indexes, functions, procedures, etc. that may be defined in the database.

The script is then immediately opened for review in a new SQL Editor window.

DDL Scripts are essential for backing up complete database structures, or to move a structure to a different server when the actual table contents are not required, such as moving from a development environment into production.

Data Visualization and Charting

A colorful, eye-catching chart is much more vivid and communicates meaning more effectively than a table of numeric data. DatabaseSpy provides a wide variety of charting features for visualization of SQL query results. Create the most accurate and vivid graphical representation of your data in line charts, bar charts, pie charts, area charts, and many more with advanced formatting options.

Chart & graph creation from SQL query results

Real-time updates when data changes

Granular customization of chart appearance

Support for background images

Chart overlays to combine chart types

Exporting charts in multiple image formats

Saving, copying, & printing charts

Multiple charts simultaneously from complex queries

Now you can create attractive and informative charts data visualization of information in your database without exporting data to a dedicated charting application. Charts created using DatabaseSpy are customizable to suit business intelligence reports in HTML, Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF documents, or you can save charts created in DatabaseSpy in your choice of .png, .bmp, .gif, or .jpg image formats at the custom resolution you specify.

The following chart types are supported:

Pie charts (2D & 3D)

Bar charts (2D & 3D)

Stacked bar charts (2D & 3D)

Area charts

Stacked area charts (with transparency)

Category and value line graphs

Candlestick charts

Gauge charts

Numerous customization options are available for each chart type, including chart titles, foreground and background colors, definition of axis ranges and labels, control of fonts, text colors, fonts and sizes, and more. Intuitive dialogs let you specify every element of a chart, even the tilt angle for 3D pie charts.

Advanced Database Reporting with Charts

For a more complete database reporting solution, Altova StyleVision is an award-winning tool for designing compelling reports and forms based on XML, SQL database, and XBRL inputs. With a few simple steps, you can access data in SQL databases and create visually compelling reports with charts in HTML, PDF, RTF, and Word (Open XML), along with Authentic enterprise forms, all in a single design. Then automatically regenerate the report with updated data any time it’s needed.

Database Content Editor

Information stored in relational databases is rarely static. Existing records are updated or removed, and new information is added to keep the database up to date and accurate, maintaining business value. DatabaseSpy offers convenient database editor tools for database table content. DatabaseSpy lets you edit the content of database tables in an interactive preview window.

As you work, the database editor interacts with the database in a limited manner. When all your changes are complete, you can review your edits and commit them all at once via the Commit button on the toolbar.

In addition to editing data stored in the database, you can learn more about information presented in any DatabaseSpy results table. You can select a range of cells and copy them to paste into another application, print the results table, or automatically calculate and display information about selected results. You can also sort the results by any column to display the table data in a more useful form.

Working with Binary Data

DatabaseSpy helps you easily process binary data in a column defined as a binary data type. You can load binary data into the table from an external file, or save binary data from the database to an external file. Binary data fields supported include BLOB, raw, binary, varbinary, image, and others, depending on the database type.

XML in Databases

Altova DatabaseSpy includes special features to explore, manage, and work with XML in databases. XML is established as the preferred method for exchanging structured data between enterprises, but storing XML data in a relational database adds a layer of complexity. DatabaseSpy includes robust tools to help you analyze and manipulate databases that contain XML information.

DatabaseSpy Features for XML:

View XML table contents in SQL query results

Expand individual XML cells with the Data Inspector

Send XML directly to XMLSpy for editing

Assign XML as the datatype for database table columns

Assign XML Schemas for XML columns

Add, drop, or view all database XML Schemas from one convenient dialog

Support for database vendor-specific XML terms in SQL queries

When you expand a database table using the DatabaseSpy Online Browser, columns containing XML data are identified in the Browser Tree. You can also explore XML Schemas registered in the database in the browser hierarchy. To examine any XML Schema in detail, you can send it to XMLSpy,, the industry-leading development environment for all XML-related technologies, where it is automatically opened in XMLSpy Schema View for intuitive graphical display.

The DatabaseSpy Data Inspector Window is a helpful option to display long XML entries contained in individual cells. The Data Inspector Window displays XML content with color coding and word wrap, and you can resize the window for a better view.
You can also copy XML data from the results window or Data Inspector window to edit offline in XMLSpy. The updated external file is easily replaced in the database.

XMLSpy & SQL Database Integration:

Database quick-connect wizard

Database Query window with SQL editor

Import SQL database data to XMLSpy

Create XML Schemas based on SQL database structures

Export XML to SQL databases

Create a database schema from an XML Schema

Support for XML-enabled databases

Database Comparison

Developers, data architects, and others who regularly work with databases often need to locate changes, migrate differences, or synchronize versions of database tables. Altova DatabaseSpy includes a powerful database compare and merge tool to satisfy all these requirements.

You can compare and merge table contents, or compare database schemas and merge differences. You can even migrate entire database structures from one database type to another. When you compare different database types, DatabaseSpy even resolves datatype naming inconsistencies.

DatabaseSpy displays database comparisons in an intuitive graphical table representation with connecting lines to illustrate column mapping between tables. DatabaseSpy automatically maps columns with the same names, or you can drag connecting lines to manually map columns for comparison.

After you identify differences between tables, you can merge content in either direction by updating individual cells or entire tables. You can also generate a merge script that opens automatically in a new SQL Editor window.

You can even generate a Restore script to document your changes or as a precaution against accidental deletion of critical data.

Data Import and Export

DatabaseSpy lets you select any table or view from any connected database for export. If you select multiple tables or views for export, each is written to a separate file. You can also export XML, XML Structure, CSV, or HTML directly to Altova XMLSpy. When you’re working in the SQL Editor you even have a dedicated Export button to let you instantly open an export dialog box pre-loaded with your current SQL Editor statements.

DatabaseSpy lets you import data into your databases from conventional CSV files or from files containing XML data. Using either format, you can create new tables or update existing tables in your database.

Database Import/Export Features:

Import data from XML or CSV formats

Import data directly or generate a SQL import script

Export data in XML, CSV, HTML, or Excel formats

Export from any database table or view

Export from a SQL query

Copy from query results window to paste into a new app

Preview data before import or export

Enterprise ETL

ETL (Extract-Transform-Load) tools provide a mechanism for extracting data from external sources, transforming it to a normalized data format, and then loading it into an end target or repository. With support for prevalent enterprise data formats (XML, JSON, databases, flat files, EDI, etc.), Altova MapForce is an extremely effective, lightweight, and scalable tool for ETL. MapForce offers a straightforward, visual user interface and support for data processing functions and filters.

Convert and Import Data

If you need to convert data from a dissimilar format before importing it to your database, Altova MapForce is the visual mapping tool with the power to map any combination of XML, database, text, or EDI files. MapForce can connect to all major databases and convert source data on the fly for direct insertion.